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Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing
08:05

Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing

Published on: March 19, 2018

Aberrant structures of fecal bacterial community in allergic infants profiled by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing

Jiro Nakayama1, Takako Kobayashi, Shigemitsu Tanaka

  • 1Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Division of Applied Molecular Microbiology and Biomass Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. nakayama@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|October 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Infant gut bacteria composition in the first two months can predict allergy development. Specific bacterial abundances, like Bacteroides and Klebsiella, were linked to a higher risk of allergic diseases later in infancy.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • The early life gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune system development.
  • Alterations in fecal bacteria composition during infancy are increasingly linked to allergic diseases.
  • Understanding these early microbial patterns may offer insights into allergy prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between fecal bacteria composition in early infancy and the development of allergic diseases.
  • To identify specific bacterial genera associated with allergic conditions in infants.
  • To assess the validity of 16S rRNA gene profiling for detecting microbial imbalances related to allergy.

Main Methods:

  • Fecal microbiota profiling using 16S rRNA V6 short-tag sequences in infants.
  • Statistical comparison of bacterial composition between infants with and without allergic symptoms up to two years.
  • Analysis of specific bacterial genera abundance at one and two months of age.

Main Results:

  • Higher abundance of Bacteroides (at 1 month) and Propionibacterium/Klebsiella (at 2 months) in infants who developed allergies.
  • Lower abundance of Acinetobacter and Clostridium at 1 month in the allergic group.
  • Evidence of antagonism between Bacteroides/Klebsiella and Clostridium perfringens/butyricum in allergic infants.
  • Significantly lower relative abundance of Proteobacteria (excluding Klebsiella) at 1 month in the allergic group.

Conclusions:

  • Early infancy fecal bacteria composition is correlated with allergic disease prevalence.
  • Specific bacterial imbalances, including altered Proteobacteria levels, may indicate a predisposition to allergies.
  • 16S rRNA gene profiling is a valid method for identifying gut microbial disorders linked to allergy development.

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